World-renowned musician and songwriter, Mike Brady AM has been named 2017 Victorian of the Year in a ceremony to mark Victoria Day at Melbourne Town Hall earlier today.
Known as the composer of Up There Cazaly and One Day in September, two of the best-known musical songs in Australian sport, Brady has also written jingles for most of Australia’s famous brands including AAMI, Dodo Internet, and Hard Yakka. He has produced albums and songs for the likes of Tina Arena, Joe Dolce and Colleen Hewett.
More recently, Brady has returned to his ancestry with a collection of original songs in Bloodlines. In June 2013 Brady was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the community and to music as a composer and performer.
It was also announced that Regional Arts Victoria (RAV) was the recipient of the Victoria Day Award for the Arts. Founded in 1969 as the Victorian Arts Council, it began life as an umbrella body of regional arts councils, serving as the Victorian branch of the Arts Council of Australia (now Regional Arts Australia).
Regional Arts Victoria is the peak body for regional artists and arts organisations, inspiring art across the state through creative facilitation, touring, education, specialised resources, artistic projects and advocacy.
In addition, Awards were presented to the following individuals and groups in the following categories: Young Victorian of the Year – Robert Gillies; Organisation – Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria; and Good Corporate Citizen: Bendigo Bank.
The selection of the award recipients was made by the Trustees of the Victorian Day Council after careful deliberation of many worthy nominations, all of whom have made significant and valuable contributions to the Victorian community. The Trustees of the Victoria Day Council is made up of previous Victorian of the Year Award recipients.
“I am honoured to introduce this year’s winners, said Mr Tony Cree, Chairman of the Victoria Day Council. “The Victoria Day Council each year recognises people in the community that have gone above and beyond their contribution to the community within Victoria.”
“On behalf of the Victoria Day Council, I thank them and congratulate them on their truly outstanding achievements and the great work they have done, I am thrilled they have been recognised in this way.”
The Awards are presented as part of the celebrations for Victoria Day, which in 2017 marks the 166th anniversary of the official separation of Victoria from New South Wales and the formal proclamation as an independent State by Governor La Trobe. For more information, visit: www.victoriaday.org.au for details.
Image: Mike Brady